After living in one place for so long, of course you’d be reluctant to leave! “Qingping Mountain isn’t far away, so I can go back and visit it if I want.”
Xu Jiushi calmed down and looked towards the direction of Qingping Mountain. "The vermicelli workshop is still in the back mountain. We can still stay there for a while every year. It's not bad!"
Vermicelli is seasonal and is made from the time when sweet potatoes are ripe until the Chinese New Year. In addition, the workshop is newly built, so Kang Yueran didn't let anyone move it.
"It means people should look forward! Moving out of Qingping Mountain will benefit the future."
"I understand. Settling down in the village, everyone can work and earn a living, and children can study and take exams, and change their family background. It's a good thing!"
Xu Jiushi cleared away his gloom and continued, "Construction has already begun on the houses in Shuangxi Village. Before winter this year, the houses in the four villages will be completed and distributed to each household."
"It will definitely be lively then!"
"Well, it will definitely be a lively occasion!"
The two looked forward to the future, and then smiled at each other!
On the first day of April, the kiln at Mount Paektu was tested and a kiln opening ceremony was held on the same day. Kang Yueran also went.
Yu Honghuo led people to offer sacrifices to the sky, burn incense, and set off firecrackers.
Kang Yueran was not good at giving speeches in public, so she asked Wang Hai to speak on her behalf.
Hu Dacheng carried two baskets of red envelopes, and Kang Yueran distributed them to the kiln workers one by one. Each red envelope contained nine cents.
After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven is completed, it is time to test the kiln.
Yu Honghuo handed the torch to Kang Yueran and pointed to a place. Kang Yueran went over and lit the fire.
After the kiln was lit, Yu Honghuo and several kiln masters shouted loudly, "Open the kiln!"
Amid the cheers of the crowd, the Paektu Mountain Kiln was officially established.
Wang Hai returned to the Baekdu Mountain Kiln to work as a manager. The manager of the Beigu Kiln was named Xie Yun, who was also Kang Yueran's servant who had signed a death contract.
The kiln workers at the Baekdu Mountain Kiln will live in Xiangshan Village, which is not far away, so there are very few houses built for overnight stays, and they are only provided for the people who guard the kilns at night.
There is a dining hall, and it is very large, with rows of long tables and benches.
At the entrance is the warehouse and office area, with the accountant and manager each having a room to handle daily affairs.
Everyone in Baitou Mountain was new, so Yu Honghuo brought a group of experienced workers from Beigu Kiln to pass on their experience.
Kang Yueran set up a two-month probation period for new employees. If they are capable, they will stay; if they are not, they will be transferred or leave.
With this guideline, everyone studied very seriously.
Kang Yueran looked around and found nothing wrong, so she took Hu Dacheng back to Qingping Village.
In Qingping Village, He Zhengchu was waiting for her.
As soon as they met, He Zhengchu smiled brightly and charmingly, "Miss, I have been recommended by Governor He to take the imperial examination. If I pass, I can become an official."
Kang Yueran was very surprised. "That's great. I have to thank your teacher, Yue Shanchang, for this. Let's go back to Anzhou with you. We will go to thank him together tomorrow."
After He Zhengchu's unremitting efforts, Yue Qingyao accepted him as his disciple just after the New Year.
The imperial examination system in Dayong was similar to that in the Sui and Tang dynasties and was not perfect.
It is divided into the following stages. Those who have studied for 500 days and have excellent grades will be reported by the school to the provincial government, and the provincial government will directly give them the status of "students".
With the status of a student, one can take the provincial examination. The provincial government will select three from the top five examinees and recommend them to the Ministry of Rites to take the examination.
The examination of the Ministry of Rites was called Gongju. Originally, there were many subjects, but by the time of Dayong, only six subjects were preserved: Xiucai, Mingjing, Jinshi, Mingfa, Mingshu, and Mingsuan.
Among them, the examination for scholars was the most rigorous, but the gentry preferred the Mingjing and Jinshi categories, and believed that Jinshi was the most honorable.
The Imperial Examination was held by the Ministry of Rites, so one had to go to the capital to take the examination. If one passed the examination, one would be given the status of a Xianggong (Xiang Gong), and could become an official.
After the provincial examinations, there was the imperial examination, also known as the palace examination. The Ministry of Rites selected the top few candidates, and the emperor personally selected the top three candidates in the palace.
This was Kang Yueran's first time at Anzhou Academy. The academy was much smaller than she had imagined. Not far from the entrance were the classrooms, behind them were the students' school buildings, and behind those were the residences of the academy's teachers.
There were no women in the academy, and all the students coming and going looked at Kang Yueran.
Xie Yan, who usually had a good relationship with He Zhengchu, ran over and asked, "Are you the headmaster of Qingping Village Kang?"
"yes!"
Xie Yan was very excited. "My name is Xie Yan, and Zhengchu and I are good friends. Master, why are you here today?"
He Zhengchu replied, "She came with me to see the teacher! Xie Yan, let's talk later."
Xie Yan nodded vigorously, "I'll visit you at the Kang family later."
After the two walked a little further away, Kang Yueran teased, "Why do you, my classmate and good friend, look a little silly?"
He Zhengchu's face was a little disappointed. "Xie Yan is the same age as me. He is the legitimate son of the wealthy businessman Mr. Xie. He has been pampered by the Xie family since he was young, so he has retained a rare innocent heart."
Kang Yueran smiled and patted He Zhengchu's shoulder. "Everyone has their own destiny. Only after experiencing hardship can you taste a different kind of sweetness. Don't lose heart!"
Like He Zhengchu, she doesn't like naive girls, but she is also extremely envious of them.
He Zhengchu smiled brightly, "Well, since I met you guys, I have a sweet life." It's a pity that Kang Yueran has to spend her sweet life with another man.
"That's right, we will all live a good life from now on!"
As they were talking, they came to the gate of Yue Qingyao's yard.
The servant opened the door and invited the two in.
Yue Qingyao was reading in the study. After knocking on the door and entering, He Zhengchu bowed.
Kang Yueran performed a rare female blessing ceremony, "Great job, Yueshan Chang'an!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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